Whether you’re baking it, vaping it, or packing it in a bong, when we consume cannabis, it’s the flower we’re using. Just like every flower has its own unique scent and beauty, cannabis plants have their own recognizable smells. For example, Buddah Kush has a one-of-a-kind spicy pine aroma, while Death Bubba smells of musky earth and lemon.

These unique smells and flavours are courtesy of the terpenes found on the plant. There are about 20,000 terpenes in existence, but the average cannabis plant only uses about 120. Since they are such a major part of what makes up a cannabis plant, this article explores how terpenes affect your cannabis experience.

WHAT ARE TERPENES?
Terpenes are organic compounds that feel a bit oily or greasy to touch. They do much more than affect the smell and taste of the bud, terpenes also protect the plant from the elements. Terpenes have been used in many industries since the 1800s, but only now are becoming a household name, thanks to cannabis. However, because of their fragrance, terpenes are found everywhere now.

Consumer products such as cosmetics, perfumes, and cleaning supplies use terpenes for their natural aromas. They’re also popular in the food and beverage industry… Beer brewers, for example, are using terpenes to give their brew the aroma and flavour of hops. Some medicines and pesticides also use terpenes to improve the consumers experience with their product.

TYPES OF TERPENES IN MARIJUANA
With over 20,000 terpenes to choose from, we can’t list all of them here, but there are some popular ones that are used often in cannabis plants.

ALPHA-PINENE & BETA-PINENE: You can tell by its name that you can expect a strong pine scent with these buds. These terpenes are found in pine trees, orange peels, basil and rosemary. Both alpha and beta pinene are known for combating respiratory conditions. Strains heavy in pinene should be consumed by eating or vaping to help reduce inflammation in the airways.

GERANIOL: Early research on Geraniol is showing these terpenes have strong antioxidant qualities. Their buds smell of peaches and plums, some even express a fresh-cut lawn aroma. Geraniol isn’t just great on cannabis but is often used in lotions and bath products.

HUMULENE: We mentioned earlier, using terpenes in beer, this is a popular one for that, since it offers woody and spicy flavours. What’s interesting are the health benefits from Humulene. It’s known for antibacterial qualities and regulating our appetites. However, studies are showing that Humulene is helpful in fighting the growth of tumors. More research is needed, but as of now, the outlook is good.

LINALOOL: You know that classic marijuana smell that makes the plant so recognizable? That’s from Linalool. It’s proven to fight depression and anxiety and research is currently showing that it may reverse cognitive impairment from Alzheimer’s.

LIMONENE: You guessed it; Limonene offers its plants a fresh citrus aroma. Aside from boosting your mood when smoked, Limonene is also used in cleaners, detergents, foods and beverages.

MYRCENE: Sometimes referred to as “the mother of all terpenes”, myrcene is one of the most commonly used terpenes. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties giving any bud it’s a part of pain fighting qualities. Even though myrcene occurs heavily in mangoes, it has a bit of an earthy and grape aroma/flavour.

There is still so much to learn about terpenes, especially when it comes to enhancing the strains of cannabis they’re connected to. We look forward to seeing more research, discovering more terpenes and how to use them.